2007 Big Bang
Saturday (time trials)
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The latest updates are at the top of the page. Click on your Browser's Refresh key to be sure of seeing the latest news. Click here to go back to the event index 20:30 Today's pictures have now been posted, you can view them via the Event Index page. We're off to dinner now, tune back in the morning and we'll bring you all the news from qualifying and eliminations. 18:00 We're now done for the day on the track. Martin Hill followed the 9.50 Bike session with a 6.3351/261.59 in the Fireforce 3 Jet FC and this run included the first recorded instance of a Jet FC pilot pedalling! The flame went out and back on again at about half track. Notables in the final RWYB session were an 8.4261/162.43 by Paul Marston in the PMR Calibra and a storming - and straight! - 7.6962/175.84 by Mark Pointer in his van. Peter is now going through today's pictures so stay tuned and we'll let you know when those are ready. 17:20 9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 4:
Mike Powell into the top five in this session at #5 only to be bumped down a place by Carl Atkinson in the next run. 17:10 Outlaw Anglia quickest times after three time trials:
Richard Colby improved his best time of day and is now second quickest. Super Modified five quickest after four time trials:
First run of the day for Tim Garlick and he put down the quickest time so far today. A cracking first run, too, for Andy Home, third quickest of today's time trials. 17:00 Real Steel Street Eliminator five quickest after three time trials:
A big improvement for Colin Lazenby, looking like the class of the field so far. Andy Frost into the eights in this time trial after a gentle launch but the Vauxhall was, well, "wobbling" all the way down the track is the best way to describe it - moving left and right at quite a high rate. Andy stayed with it all the way so I guess he felt comfortable with it. Steve Nash's first run of the day too, straight and true and into the five quickest on the day whilst in the right hand lane Jeff Meads' Pop went all over the lane and he had to get off the gas eventually. A very nice pass for Ron Haslett in this session, 9.7060 which has got to be a PB or near it, well done Ron! 16:30 VW Alternate Engine quickest after three time trials:
VW Sportsman five quickest after four time trials:
No changes to today's five quickest time trials. VW Pro five quickest after three time trials:
Craig Gibbs and Paul Marston have put in extra runs in the RWYB session, Craig put down a 7.8328/173.91 with a level launch, no 'chute at the top end but Craig got it stopped no problem. Paul's second-ever run in the Calibra was an 8.8640/154.00. Trackside conditions are 66.0 F, 49% humidity and 29.91 inches of air, track temperature is 91.2 F. 15:35 9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 3:
A nice pass by Dave Burfitt alongside son Andy moved him into #3 spot. In the next pairing Andy Haley came into the top five at #4. We've got nine of eighteen qualifiers in the 9.5s. Jason Macan is still playing Naughty Boy with a 9.2382 in this session. Trackside conditions are 66.6 F, 49% humidity and 29.91 inches of air, track temperature is 88.1 F. 15:00 VW Sportsman five quickest after three time trials:
VW Alternate Engine quickest after two time trials:
VW Pro quickest after two time trials:
Paul Marston followed VW Pro with his first outing in the ex-Mick Cheley Calibra, we were expecting a sixty foot but Paul stayed with it and clocked 9.2393/133.97. 14:40 Super Modified quickest after three time trials:
A stormer for Andy Kirk, his first run of the day and he's the quickest so far. Nigel Payne improved slightly upon his earlier 7.9. Rob Smallworth had all sorts of problems with his Chevy, the tyres wouldn't light on the burnout and then the motor died off the line. The car rolled to a halt with a pop and just as Angie of the fire crew arrived with her extinguisher there was a huge nitrous burp and the scoop launched several feet into the air. Angie didn't even flinch! 14:30 Real Steel Street Eliminator five quickest after two time trials:
A nice pass from Al Simms made him third quickest for the day so far. Alex McIntosh improved and moved up to third at that point but in the last pairing Ian Jackson made his first pass of the day and he's third quickest for the day. A lot of the cars overpowered the track off the line in this session. Outlaw Anglia quickest times after two time trials:
A big improvement for Ray Guy and he's second quickest for the day so far. Trackside conditions are 65.1 F, 48% humidity and 29.91 inches of air, track temperature on the start line is 100.2 F. 13:30 Martin Hill rounded off the morning session with a storming 6.1560/269.26 in the Fireforce 3 Jet FC. Real Steel Street Eliminator racers Ron Haslett and Al Simms squared off during the last RWYB session and clocked 10.1450/140.67 and 9.6558/151.57 respectively. 12:40 9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 2:
Richard Hann moved into the top five, in at #4 in the third pairing. Steve Coombs then improved and moved up to #4 bumping Richard down a spot. A couple of pairings later Andy Burfitt came in at #4 with his first pass of the day. Jason Macan needs to slow it down a bit having run 9.2940, Shaun Spiers then thought he'd go even naughtier at 9.2721. We had a fair number of breakouts in this session, whether it's the the track or air conditions, showboating, or knowing that there are plenty of other sessions to get it right I couldn't tell you. 12:25 VW Sportsman top five best time trials:
Super Modified best time trials:
A nice big wheelie from Andy Chilton and then the car turned right as it came down, Andy calmly pedalled and then got back on the gas all the way. Trackside conditions are 62.6 F, 51% humidity and 29.91 inches of air. 11:45 VW Alternate Engine first time trial:
VW Pro first time trial:
VW Sportsman first time trial:
Trackside conditions are 61.5 F, 57% humidity and 29.91 inches of air. Track temperature on the start line is 88.1 F. 11:35 Outlaw Anglia first time trial:
Check out the huge speed from Mark Pointer, that was with two long pedals since the van did its usual trick of trying to run in both lanes at once. Dean White's car disappeared into a huge cloud of smoke in the shutdown area but nothing was found on the track and Dean drove back to the pits. A big Hello to our good buddy Sharkman who is doubtless tuned in to see if Pointer avoided the guardrail. Hope you are faring well this morning buddy, lots of people here are asking after you and wishing you well. Trackside conditions are 61.2 F, 56% humidity and 29.91 inches of air. Super Modified first time trial:
Craig Gibbs is really getting into wheelying off the start line, a beautifully controlled wheelstand past the Tree and deep into the sevens, nice one Craig! Spencer has given us his first set of pit notes, you can access those via the Event Index. 11:05 Real Steel Street Eliminator five quickest in first time trial:
Mark Perkins made his first outing in his ex-Webster Mustang, a very nice-looking car and a very competent burnout and easy pass, 13.0909. Trackside conditions are 59.4 F, 63% humidity and 29.91 inches of air. Track temperature on the start line at the start of this time trial was 81.2 F. 10:25 9.50 Bike qualifying top five after session 1:
Eighteen bikes qualified after this session, five in the 9.5s and three under index, the worst "offender" being Paul Coombs at 9.3580. Time trials for the race cars are due to start at 10:30 starting with Street Eliminator. 9:00 Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway. It's day one of the Big Bang and we're here to bring you all the news in association with American Car Imports. The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and broadcasting a picture every sixty seconds. You can access the webcam via the Event Index page. As at the Autotrader Easter Thunderball we will leave the webcam running continuously until the track closes tomorrow. It's a very nice day here, hardly a cloud in the sky and a light breeze. You can almost see the track warming as it basks in the sun. The weather station is currently giving trackside conditions as 57.6 F, 69% humidity and 29.91 inches of air. The plan for today is Run What You Brung, qualifying for 9.50 Bike, and Time Trials for VW classes, Super Modified, Street Eliminator and Outlaw Anglia. Because these classes are running Time Trials there may not be any formal results to give you but if all else fails we'll make notes and bring you the highlights. Things will be a bit easier tomorrow as we are formally qualifying and racing. Simon and Roger both have aegrotats this weekend so we will be joined by Spencer Tramm and Peter Donaldson, Spencer will be bringing you pit notes whilst Peter will be taking photographs. Stay tuned during the day for pit notes and the photo gallery will be posted at the end of the day. The track will open at 10:00 and we understand that 9.50 Bike will be first up. Stay tuned and we'll be back then. Reports and pictures ©Eurodragster.com |